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While Drew Tate and the Calgary Stampeders will hardly go all Shakespeare on us, one of this week’s worst-kept secrets was officially confirmed Wednesday morning when the injured pivot showed up to practice and still wasn’t healthy enough to throw.

The lingering forearm strain paves the way for backup Kevin Glenn to make his first start of the season Friday against the host Montreal Alouettes (5:30 p.m., TSN, News Talk 770).

The news should surprise no one, as Tate still hasn’t thrown a ball since midway through the fourth quarter of last week’s 36-21 loss in Regina.

It didn’t even surprise Tate.

“No, I was kind of thinking it was going to happen like this,” Tate said. “When I wake up in the morning and it doesn’t feel good, it’s probably a good sign (I’m not going to play).”

But like Shakespeare questioning the uncertainty of what lies beyond, nothing about the Tate situation is certain.

Stamps GM/head coach John Hufnagel doesn’t know if his starting quarterback will be back for Week 4, and neither does Tate.

“I think day-by-day is a pretty good description,” Hufnagel said. “The soreness. Basically, right now, it’s very sore, and that will have to subside, so when he starts throwing again, he doesn’t re-injure it.”

The feeling of deja-vu around McMahon Stadium kicked into overdrive when the quarterback change was announced.

Glenn stepped in for Tate last CFL season in Week 3.

Against the Alouettes.

In Montreal.

On July 12.

The result was a 33-32 loss, but Glenn went on to compile an 11-6 record as the starter, including playoffs.

“Getting this close to gametime, it’s pretty much deja-vu,” Glenn said. “Everything that went on this week and what happened in the last game, for me to be coming out in Week 3 against Montreal in Montreal, it’s pretty much deja-vu. But it’s still football. You still gotta go out, and you still gotta play. This is probably the sport that this kind of deja-vu could happen two years in a row.”

The 13-year veteran likes the feeling attached to being called ‘starter’ once again, but there’s no quarterback controversy brewing at this point.

“I mean … it feels good,” Glenn said. “If you’re in this business and you don’t want to play, something’s wrong. We sacrifice a lot of stuff to come out here to play this game, so when you’re given an opportunity to go out and play, it really sinks in that you really want to play.”

The blueprint Glenn laid out in 2012 is a pretty good one — step in, win games and get to the Grey Cup — and the coaching staff has confidence he can do the same thing one year later.

“There’s confidence within the organization that all three of our quarterbacks can get on the field and win us football games,” Hufnagel said. “What he accomplished last year will add to the confidence level — not only for himself but for the players on the field.”

Tate, who will dress Friday, will play a background role, for now.

“When I play quarterback, I don’t like too many people talking to me,” Tate added. “Just don’t talk to me while I’m playing. You know, like my coach and some of the receivers (can talk to me) and stuff like that. But I don’t want to be involved too much, because, you know, if you’re hearing too many different things, that’ll just take you out of your focus of what you’re really trying to do. But I’m going to help Glenn, definitely. I had a lot of practice last year at it, so just right back at it again this year.”

Calgary Stampeders QB Kevin Glenn steps in for injured Drew Tate

While Drew Tate and the Calgary Stampeders will hardly go all Shakespeare on us, one of this week’s worst-kept secrets was officially confirmed Wednesday morning when the injured pivot showed up to practice and still wasn’t healthy enough to throw.

The lingering forearm strain paves the way for backup Kevin Glenn to make his first start of the season Friday against the host Montreal Alouettes (5:30 p.m., TSN, News Talk 770).

The news should surprise no one, as Tate still hasn’t thrown a ball since midway through the fourth quarter of last week’s 36-21 loss in Regina.

It didn’t even surprise Tate.

“No, I was kind of thinking it was going to happen like this,” Tate said. “When I wake up in the morning and it doesn’t feel good, it’s probably a good sign (I’m not going to play).”

But like Shakespeare questioning the uncertainty of what lies beyond, nothing about the Tate situation is c